Classic cars line streets of Clarkston in honor of car buff

Some of the classic cars in the funeral procession for Herbert Bruce "Spanky" Sandlin, 59, as they leave funeral services at Lewis E. Wint Funeral Home in Clarkston to Lakeview Cemetery, Monday September 23, 2013. (Oakland Press Photo:Vaughn Gurganian)

CLARKSTON — At least 10 shiny classic cars paraded down Dixie Highway Monday afternoon to honor one of the area’s better known car buffs, Herbert Bruce “Spanky” Sandlin.Mr. Sandlin, 59, of Holly, died in his sleep Wednesday morning. Following his funeral at Lewis E. Wint & Son Funeral Home in Clarkston, more than 30 cars proceeded to Lakeview Cemetery for the burial.Nearly everyone knew him as “Spanky,” said his older brother Jim Sandlin, 71, of Ortonville. Sandlin nicknamed his little brother Spanky after the main character in the 1930s TV show, “Our Gang” — known to modern audiences as “The Little Rascals.”A retired GM employee, “Spanky” Sandlin was well known in the area for attending local car shows and participating in three car clubs: Good Guys, a national organization; National Street Rod Association and Michigan Hot Rod Association, for which he was an original member.His favorite cars were street rods, Jim Sandlin said, including 1934 Ford and 1940 Willys models.Through his lifetime, he purchased and restored about 50 cars, Jim Sandlin said, and when he died he owned between eight and 10 classics.“He was an avid car fan since he was 3 years old,” Jim Sandlin said. “I got him started on it and he never quit.”Randy Dunlap, 54, of Linden — and Spanky’s best friend — traveled all over the country with him finding classic cars. Dunlap remembered fondly how they would drive 200 miles out of the way to go to Spanky’s favorite barbecue restaurant in Indianapolis. The two worked together at GM for 30 years and went to cruises or built cars together on the weekends.But Spanky Sandlin was not only known for his interest in cars. His friends described him as kind, genuine and someone who loved people.“Once you met him, he was your friend for life,” Dunlap said. “All he had to do was shake your hand.”
Although he did not have a wife or children, Spanky Sandlin often mentored some of the young adults in the area.He would teach teenagers how to restore cars and after fixing them together, he would give it to them to drive. He even kept a stash of tires in his garage for people who needed them.“He took young people under his wing he felt were having trouble and mentored them,” Dunlap said. “He was an angel with skin.”Sandlin was preceded in death by his parents, Gertrude and Herbert; and his nephew, Steven. He was the brother of Jim Sandlin, who is married to Joanne. Memorials may be made to the American Diabetes Association.“There’s not another person I’ll ever get to meet like him,” Dunlap said.